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Fall colors in the dog yard.
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Hello all.
I'll get right to the big news for
TeamTsuga, and that is we are going back to the Yukon
Quest in 2009! We were kind of half-hearted when we
signed-up in August but have since secured a loan that
makes this possible and we'll be leaving New Hampshire
and heading for Two Rivers, Alaska in a couple of weeks
with 20 dogs to train for Quest and run some early
season warm-up races. The decision to bite the bullet
and go back to Quest was not an easy one. The desire was
plenty strong to go back almost as soon as we finished
last year, and where there's a strong enough will,
there's a chance to find a way. We have the team to do
it now and have decided to sell our house to finance the
dream, if only the house would sell. For now, the debt
will mount, but the dream will live. You only live once.
(As far as I know.)
So, we'll be just outside of Fairbanks
with our friends Sandy and Bill McKee for the winter. We
stayed with them several times last year, including for
the Quest start. They have a second cabin on their land
that is quite comfortable with electricity, running
water, and internet access. We're really looking forward
to being in Alaska this time around. With nearly
unlimited miles of good trail out of the yard, including
the Quest trail, we will have excellent training and new
trails for us and the dogs to explore. Having the
amenities of Fairbanks 20 miles away will also be an
added pleasure this year. Not to mention, we know a lot
more people there than we did last winter in the Yukon.
Last year's experience was great in many ways, but it
became an exercise in overcoming things. This winter we
hope to have more fun and not have to struggle through
as much. It's way easier to prepare when you know what's
coming at you and I know we can do a better job in
preparation and execution during the race.
One step we decided to take this year is
to leave our retired dogs here in New England instead of
transporting the whole kennel like we did last winter.
Our friend Ken Haggett runs a touring operation with his
team of siberians and has agreed to take Wyatt, Birch,
Squiggle, Kobuk, Maple, and Hawkeye for the winter. Last
week we got together up at camp so he could see them run
and get to meet them. After two days of training
together, we loaded them in his truck and he already
reports they've mostly settled in to his kennel. It was
pretty tough for us to let that group of dogs out of our
sight. Those guys include the very dogs that started all
of this, but we really feel they'll be happier not
having to get trucked across the continent just to sit
on the sidelines. Ken will give them a great spot to be
until we return in the spring. His business ensures lots
of attention for the dogs and fun but short runs.
Although we'll miss them until spring, it really is a
perfect situation. Additionally, it will allow us more
room in the dogtruck for the racing dogs and lighten the
load, too. Its benefits out-weigh the loneliness we feel
without them and we're convinced it's as good a plan as
we could have devised for all involved. Check out Ken's
site at
peacepupsdogsledding.com
So, we are down to the 20 dogs that will
make the trip north in a couple of weeks. Jim is the
old-timer of the bunch. He'll be 10 in November but
still has every desire and ability to make the team. The
nine Quest finishers (Stump, Mugs, Gila, Reba, Hood,
Merlin, Logan, Ambler, and Eliza) are all running strong
so far this fall, seemingly picking up right where we
left off last spring. Wilson, Gecko, Lotus, and Trip
lead the candidates to fill the remaining spots. Curly,
Cassin, Isis, Moon, and Esther will all have to work
hard to leapfrog on to the Quest team. Zirkle is, of
course, just along for the ride in the front seat. Fall
training has been sporadic so far with temperatures not
staying consistently cool enough, but we have had about
15 training team hook-ups, although our longest run is
only 5 miles. They are finishing runs wanting more and
as soon as the weather allows it, they'll get it! The
team looks great and we will have a focused, determined
effort to do our very best this winter.
So, we're in the process of finishing
things up around here, packing, saying goodbyes,
arranging details in Alaska and at stops on the way,
closing up the house, etc. It's a busy time, but we're
excited to have the chance to live our dream, again.
Sue and I will be speaking at the
sleddog trade fair this weekend. Come on out and see the
slide show. Details are at the link on our home page.
Thanks for checking in with us - Mike,
Sue, and TeamTsuga.
Reba & Wilson
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